This is on a load-bearing post in the basement of the frame shop.

W.H., July 17, 1919, Age 14.

Ode to W.H.

Last night was the 7th annual Red Wing Holiday Stroll. This event is hosted by the Downtown Red Wing Mainstreet organization and is meant to be an alternative to the enclosed mall exodus that typically occurs the day after Thanksgiving.

Anybody downtown can pretty much define whatever activity they want to do during the stroll and many merchants provide discounts and free snacks. We opted to work with The Sheldon Theatre to create a fun family event that is both corny and nostalgic.

It was decided to re-create an Eisenhower-era tradition…the family Christmas photo.

We settled on a fakey outdoor-looking Christmas photo set, obviously taken indoors, very much like you might find at a Macy’s Department Store in 1955. This allowed us to use period overcoats, hats and fake snow to re-create the era and move clients in and out of the set quickly. 15 minutes later they would stop by our shop to pick up a keepsake 5”x7” photo, printed in period fashion and in a stylish envelope. Most clients ‘got it’ and really became involved in the spirit of the event.

All for $5 and all the proceeds went to the Friends of The Sheldon, which is the fund raising arm of The Sheldon.

A small army of volunteers was recruited and it was a mostly-smooth workflow of production. There were a lot of laughs and there are too many people to thank here that made this work. Ideas are already brewing for next year.

Good times.

I grew up on Dragnet. I know how crimes of this nature are solved.

First you interview all the neighbors, learn what they may have seen or heard. Talk fast, so they answer fast. When they begin to wander off topic (as citizens will do), bring them right back on topic. Rattle their cage a bit and leave a business card in case they think of anything later.

Then look for motive. Investigate the victim and see if there are any gambling or large debts owed. Find out if there is a 'dame' involved. Follow-up on any motel matchbook covers or cocktail napkins you might find.

This case quickly boiled down to one of two theories: an expert sharpshooter with a middle-European accent was poised on the roof of The Sheldon Theatre and, in a case of mistaken identity, attempted an assassination under the cloak of darkness.

Or...

Two punks in a p-o-s car fired a wrist rocket at my window and several of my neighbor's windows.

Thanks.

I have been meaning to take this photo for years. The locals will recognize it as Wisconsin Highway 35 (northbound), just outside the Red Wing Airport. This stretch of road is in rough shape and road crews have aggressively patched most of the cracks.

Who is Tom? Is this a cry for recognition? An epithet for a lost friend? Or maybe it was the last day of seasonal labor?

Ode to Tom.

Or maybe; future of home of Red Wing Research Park?

This is a city owned building, which was originally the Red Wing City Hospital. It will soon be vacant.

This is my favorite time of year. The vernal equinox season (+/- 1 month) provides some of the most exciting light for a photographer. The early evenings, the long light and the brilliant colors are amazing. The challenge for a photographer is to capture this essence and almost all efforts fall flat. There is no substitute for the real deal.

The above photos were taken from the 'baldy' of Maiden Rock. This is the exposed rock at the bluff top that is very obvious when looking up from the ground. The leaf colors were at full peak and my intention was to collect some seasonal stock photos. I went just before sunset (6:24pm on 10-16-2008) and started shooting. I wasn't really capturing anything inspired (above left) and soon I lost all my light (note to self: bring a flashlight next time).

Then it dawned on me to try some long-exposure shots. The shot on the right was taken at 6:54pm and in about 5 minutes it was too dark to focus. It took about 20 shots before I captured the effect I wanted. This shot was captured at 100 iso, a 30 second exposure at f7.1 and a -1 ev exposure. The light blur in the lake is The Port of Lake City paddlewheel boat on its way home.

I think I actually missed one of the best photo opportunities. As soon as I completely lost my light I headed back to my truck about 1.5 miles away. it was pitch black and I was using the silhouette of a tree as a homing beacon. When I finally got back to my truck I noticed a full moon had risen and an entirely different light, mood and shadow was available. I didn't feel like falling off a cliff, so I summed it up to a learned lesson.

This week we decided to host our first major exhibit at our new location. It is an exhibit of original art from the Cream of Wheat advertising campaign from the period of 1913-1925. It begins on October 10, 2008, which doesn't leave much runway for a show of this magnitude, but it was a fairly spontaneous decision on the part of all the players involved.

The worst thing an art gallery can do is be boring, and this exhibit is anything but.

This exhibit is fascinating on many levels. To begin with, the art is amazing. The campaign director was very insistent on using the best available illustration artists and the art reflects that. The imagery is very wholesome and comforting and humor is a common element in many of the illustrations.

The exhibit also presents and discusses the use of racial stereotypes in the media. Times change and so do acceptable standards. The Cream of Wheat campaign usually used an African-American chef as a welcoming and reassuring icon. Was this naive, demeaning or enlightened on the part of Cream of Wheat?

And finally, Cream of Wheat went from a minor grain mill in North Dakota to a major worldwide cereal company in ten years because of their effective use of advertising and image branding. This alone is worthy of a Harvard business case study.

Cream of Wheat was located in Northeast Minneapolis from 1897 to 2002. The company has changed hands several times and is no longer independent. These paintings were in storage in the archives of the headquarters until the building was converted to condominiums in 2005. This might be the last opportunity to see a body of work this complete.

The best part of this exhibit is the chance to work with Dan and Sarah again. We first worked with them last year for The Dream Girl exhibit and they are a class act. Maybe next year we can do a pulp fiction or science fiction theme?

As is my want when the weather is nice, I like to sit outside and watch the traffic go by. It is a terrific opportunity to meet people, discuss stuff of the daily sort and watch the seasons change.

This past week I am outside reading an advance copy of my brother's book The Wakota Incident (shameless plug) and suddenly a piece of wood falls to the ground. I look up and this gray squirrel is busy chewing away at the apex of my building roof. He is trying to get behind the spokes and knobs to create a winter nest. There is heavy-duty screening behind the woodwork, but that is not slowing him down from damaging the woodwork.

I had hoped to repaint the spokes, knobs and balls with a Queen Anne painted lady effect, but if I am going to have to deal with a determined nest of squirrels every year, I am going to have to get pre-emptive. Forget any earlier implications I may have made about how mischievous and cute squirrels behave. The squirrels must go.

It is about time I introduce my neighbors to the wired world. I absolutely love this neighborhood. It is very diverse (young, old, rich, poor, brown, black, red and white) and it is very pedestrian-friendly. There are parks, churches, stores, homes and libraries.

Clockwise from the upper left:

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church is immediately to the south of our shop and we share an alley. It is a massive brick building and looks to have had several additions over the years. It is one of only three Reconciled in Christ (RIC) Lutheran congregations in Southern Minnesota, which means it welcomes everybody, regardless of sexual orientation. Way cool.

Directly across the street is Christ Episcopal Church. This is one of the oldest churches in Red Wing (150 years!) and also one of the most active. I have come to know several of the members and I am very impressed with the level of activism and community involvement. Again, another very open-minded congregation. Honk when you see Lottie out tending the lawn.

The Sheldon Theatre is actually just on the other side of the Episcopal lawn. The Sheldon is the jewel of Red Wing. It is a city-owned live theater and was built in 1904. Our building was originally located where the Sheldon is now and was moved to accommodate the construction (our building was Charlie Wah's Chinese laundry at the time...more about that in a future post). The Sheldon is part of the cultural core of Red Wing.

Across from the Sheldon is the Red Wing Public Library (kitty-corner from us). This is an anthill of activity. The Red Wing old-timers (of which there are many) long for the old Red Wing Carnegie-Lawther Free Library, which was a marble pillar building and very grand in stature, but only 3,500 square feet. The current library was built in 1969 and is over 27,000 square feet. I like the current architecture, horizontal limestone with a copper top that has a beautiful weathered patina. It is very 1969, but will probably never be loved like it should because of the building it replaced.

Right next door to us is a commercial building with rental apartments above (our building is on the extreme left in the photo). Dirk Griffin has the insurance agency on the corner and is also in the salt water fish business. He is into it. Chris's Cuts is a single chair barber shop, $14 cuts. Chris has a very loyal clientele and people flow in and out all day long. Kent Laugen is an attorney and is next to Chris. Kent has a focus on family law.

Finally, I need to acknowledge the neighbors directly above us, and that would be the squirrels who live in the black walnut tree that towers over our shop. The squirrels were here before we arrived and they make sure I know that. They enjoy dropping things on my head when I am sitting outside the shop and then they taunt me.

The Sales Department and Marketing Department both said it isn't. The Accounting and Operations Departments were not so sure. You be the judge.

There were no complaints. Mostly these kind of events are about meeting our downtown neighbors and learning more about them...and getting rid of some things in the process is the bonus. The first two items to go were items that I only reluctantly sold, because of sentiment more than anything else. But hey, if it has a new home and somebody else can appreciate it, so be it.

Something a bit different this weekend during Art al fresco; refreshing refreshments. "What kind of refreshments?" you are probably asking yourself right about now. Well, stop by and find out.

And while you are enjoying your refreshing refreshment, check out some terrific deals on custom frames, original art and Motawi Tiles.

Leah Lundgaard is the latest 'Art al fresco' artist. We came to know Leah several years ago and have enjoyed watching her grow as an artist over the years. Leah is a full time artist and is both a painter and a potter.

She typically paints with either a watercolor pencil or with oils. A common element in her paintings is a burst of color and activity, i.e., fall leaves or waves crashing on beach rocks.

Her pottery has an interesting pattern of geometry. I see a Fibonacci sequence in her patterns. This is a common sequence found in nature. Sunflower heads, honeybee combs and artichoke flowers are all examples of Fibonacci patterns.

Leah is modest and soft-spoken and a very genuine person. She clearly has an inner voice that she expresses with her art. Visit her website at: www.triple-l-design.com and buy lot's of her art. Right now.

Actually, July is the only month in Minnesota to never have recorded snow. The earliest snowfall in Minnesota was August 31, 1949 (Duluth, MN) and the latest snowfall was June 4, 1935 (Mizpath, MN...which is also interesting because mizpath is Hebrew for watchtower).

The photo on the left was taken this past March 31 from the front shop window. It was the day before the new shop opened and it was one of these last-gasp March snowfalls that we get every year. They are kind of sloppy, but very pretty. The photo on the right was taken moments ago from the same vantage point. The view from the shop is worth the visit alone.

Interesting difference in just three months. Tomorrow I will begin taking exterior and interior shots.

No, not art in the nude (maybe next year), but rather 'art in fresh air'. We are going to try something different this weekend by hosting a mini-art festival in our parking lot. We have this terrific street-side parking lot and the intention is to pop up a tent and host a different artist each weekend.

This is actually the brain child of Ingrid Bjerstedt Rogers from Beldenville, Wisconsin. Ingrid is a veteran of the art fair circuit and it was her suggestion to turn our parking lot into an art venue. And why not? We have this terrific black walnut tree that shades the entire parking lot and it is very pedestrian friendly. Stop by this Saturday and check it out.

Ingrid is our first artist. I would describe her pottery as being both primal and whimsical. It creates a very positive vibe when you experience it and it is very affordable. Good stuff.

I will post the 'Art al fresco' schedule as it evolves. We should have something every week.

This past February, The Red Wing Photography Club kicked off its first meeting. This is a grass roots organization, driven by the common interest of photography. All skill levels are represented and there are several sub-groups focused on wildlife, strobists and special events.

It is fun to be involved with these lively enthusiasts. Several contests are underway and several photography outings are in the works. Mary Ouret and Jeff Marcus provide the energy and the growth of the group is impressive. I think one of the aspects I enjoy the most is how grounded the group is. There is no sense of elitism and all of the support is positive.

Several local businesses have taken note of how popular the photography club is. These businesses are clever enough to understand that if they can provide a venue for the photos, they are ensuring foot traffic for themselves. Smart.

See for yourself. The main group meets once a month (3rd Monday of the month) at the St. James Hotel. The group web site (more of a forum currently) is: www.rwphotoclub.org

Here are some snapshots from last week's walking tour of The Chief Theater. The first shot is from the lobby looking back towards the street (the updated restrooms would be on the right side and the kitchen is on the left side). The second shot is from the balcony looking towards the original screen. The third shot is the kitchen galley. The pizza ovens are gone and the walk-in meat cooler is behind me. The fourth shot is from the screen stage looking back towards the theater. I have other photos, but this is enough to get the idea of the condition of the interior.

In summary, it looks almost exactly like it did a year ago when I walked through it. The general condition is very good, there are some very nice wood appointments and the mechanicals are all new or nearly new (plumbing, HVAC and roof). The kitchen is nearly new and there are three walk-in refrigerated rooms/coolers. The bar takes up a significant part of the main floor and the basement needs a good bleach scrub.

The owner suggested a selling price of $1.3MM, but he will entertain offers. The basic footprint is about 5,000 square feet, with multiple interior levels.

For the Red Wing community, the opportunity is that this is one of the last authentic downtown single screen movie theaters in the area. Once it is gone, it is gone forever.

Here are my arguments for why The Chief Theater should be protected and re-opened as an authentic downtown single-screen theater.

Just to recap why this is even an issue:

The Chief Theater opened in downtown Red Wing on January 21st. 1939. It was one of three downtown movie theaters and operated in a continuous fashion until 1994. Since then, it has been a bingo hall, a senior's center and several notorious bars. It is currently empty and has been for sale for over a year. The last business was a bar that was a trouble spot and a source of crime. The police were called on a regular basis. The bar closed when the liquor license was revoked because the operators had not bothered to get liability insurance.

The interior is actually in terrific shape. The main floor has been leveled (unfortunately) with poured concrete, but the restrooms have been updated, the roof and mechanicals are brand new and there is a full kitchen line complete with a walk-in cooler and two pizza ovens. The original screen is still in place. The projection room and the equipment are long gone, but the core of the screening room still exists (sans seats).

An argument could be made to save The Chief for either nostalgic or historic purposes. I feel an argument based on economic development is much stronger. With proper management and focus, a downtown theater can revitalize and re-energize a community. The Normal Theater in Normal, Il and the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis are success stories and the neighborhoods have thrived because these theaters have encouraged community investment. Restaurants, coffee shops, retail, housing and hotel projects have been attracted to these theaters because of the thriving foot traffic it creates and the sense of community.

Many of these types of theaters fail, mostly because of poor management. The successful theaters succeed because the screens are worked very hard. The Riverview can show up to four different movies on a given weekend day; something in the mornings for young families, early matinees for retired folk, early evening for couples and a midnight cult favorite. Not to mention film festivals, large group meetings and even rented for church services if necessary.

It attracts commerce, culture, young families and retirees. It is exactly what a core downtown needs to prosper and it is unique to Red Wing.

Downtown Red Wing has a terrific opportunity to save something that other communities have had, lost and now regret. Red Wing government agencies are always talking about smart, long term investments. They only need to look at 325 Bush Street.